Chapter 14 #2
I blinked at her. “You once set me up with one of my former students, which was awkward enough. And I think she was still in college, and I was like thirty-one.”
“If recall, she was mature for her age.”
Mom clicked her tongue. “That is a bit young, Louise.”
“Oh, fair enough.” She batted my mom’s comment out of the air. “But that was then, and my matchmaking skills have improved considerably. This one isn’t one of your students; she’s a teacher.”
My brow furrowed. I hoped she wasn’t talking about Ashley, the English teacher at my school. Even if she wasn’t secretly hooking up with Jeremy, there’d never been any chemistry between us.
Not that it mattered. I wasn’t dating anyone.
“Her name is Kelly. She teaches fourth grade, I think?” Louise went on. “Or maybe it’s fifth. She’s been in a relationship that’s, let’s say, not the best. It’s an on-again, off-again sort of thing, and we all know that’s not healthy.”
“If she’s in a relationship, why are you trying to set her up with me?” I asked.
“Well, if I’m being honest, I’m hoping you might be the thing that snaps her out of it.”
I blinked at her. “You want me to go out with someone so she’ll break up with her on-again, off-again boyfriend?”
A broad smile crossed Louise’s face. “Exactly.”
“No.”
“Theo—”
“Hard no, Aunt Louise. I don’t date, and I especially don’t date women in toxic relationships in the hopes that they’ll choose me over the jerk they keep going back to.” I stood. “Absolutely not.”
Louise sighed. “Well, when you put it that way.”
“Bye, Mom. See you later, Aunt Louise. And no dates. I mean it.”
“Don’t worry, honey,” she said. “I have a few other ideas. One in particular who I’m sure will be much more suitable.”
I rolled my eyes and walked away. It didn’t matter if she kept trying to set me up. I was going to keep saying no.
Besides, I was leaving town. Soon, it wouldn’t matter anyway.
Later that evening, I went to my parents’ place and joined the chaos. Their log home was filled with voices, laughter, the big kids playing, and the babies babbling or crying. Kind of reminded me of my childhood.
Pen and I had missed each other that afternoon, and she’d still been out when it had been time to leave to head to my parents’.
I tried to ignore the pang of disappointment.
I had no idea if she’d have wanted to go to a Haven family get-together.
And it might have been a little weird, since we were just friends.
Plus, everyone—especially my brothers—would get the wrong idea.
Everyone but Luke and Melanie had already arrived. Dad sat on the couch with Annika’s twin girls in his lap. Their brothers were wrestling with Owen on the floor, while Annika’s husband, Levi, watched from a few feet away.
Josiah’s daughter Abby looked tiny in his burly arms, and his wife, Audrey, walked around with my other niece Emily—Zachary and Marigold’s daughter. Both babies were around five months old, if I had my math right, just a little younger than Garrett and Harper’s daughter, Isla.
The Haven baby boom was a thing.
Mom and Marigold were busy in the kitchen and Zachary wandered in to help. The smile on my dad’s face as he read a book to his granddaughters was a sight to behold. He wasn’t exactly a smiley guy, but his grandkids melted him every time. It was pretty cute.
I leaned against the wall in the doorway to the living room, sipping a glass of red wine.
I was debating whether to interrupt and make my announcement or wait until everyone was eating.
The latter seemed like a smart move. If I could catch my brothers with food in their mouths, they’d be less likely to jump on me all at once.
I’d already talked to Owen, having pulled him aside to let him know when he’d first arrived.
It affected him more than anyone. He’d taken it well, especially when I’d suggested he might come play for me in a couple years.
We’d hugged it out and I knew I didn’t have to worry about him.
He had great parents, and a good head on his shoulders. He was going to be fine.
The front door opened, and I glanced over my shoulder to find Luke and Melanie. Between the two of them, they were carrying four bottles of champagne. That was suspicious. The smile on Luke’s face rivaled our dad’s.
Grinning at me, Luke said hi as he walked by and into the living room. They were up to something, and I had a feeling I knew exactly what it was.
“Hey, everybody,” Luke said, pitching his voice to carry over the noise.
Mom stepped out of the kitchen, her eyebrows lifted. I’d have bet anything she already guessed what they were about to say.
That was when I caught sight of the ring on Melanie’s left hand. Oh, shit. It was happening.
“Melanie and I have an announcement.” Luke looked at her, still grinning. “We’re getting married.”
The entire house erupted with cheers. Annika and my sisters-in-law grabbed the champagne, setting it down on the coffee table so they could hug Luke and Mel—and each other.
Josiah offered Luke a chin tip—typical Josiah—and Zachary barreled in to hug them both.
Garrett had somehow ended up with two babies in his arms, so he tipped his chin as well.
Dad still had my nieces in his lap. They sat, politely clapping, as if they’d just watched a stage performance. Mom eventually made her way through her daughters-in-law to give Luke and Melanie teary-eyed hugs. My handshake with Luke turned into a hug, and I hugged Melanie as well.
I felt like my news was going to be a downer after their announcement. Mom met my eyes from across the room and gave me a sympathetic smile, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Annika and Harper took the champagne to the kitchen, and a few minutes later, clear plastic cups of bubbly were passed around. Mom had Sprite for the kids.
Dad cleared his throat and the room went silent.
He lifted his champagne. “To Luke and Melanie. Thanks for giving us another daughter, Son.”
We all raised our glasses with a chorus of, “Cheers,” and drank.
“Stop it, Paul, you’re going to make me cry,” Melanie said as she hugged him.
The excited buzz continued as dinner was set out and we all made our way to the dining room. Our family had grown so much, Dad had built a big new table. They’d had to move some furniture around to make more space, but even with that, it was a tight fit.
Conversations continued while we dished up and ate. I waited for a lull, then put down my fork.
“I actually have some news, too.”
All eyes moved to me.
“Over the summer, the University of South Carolina reached out to me about the possibility of joining their coaching staff. They offered me the offensive coordinator position, starting next season, and I decided to accept.”
For a few seconds, silence hung over the table, broken only by the sound of baby Isla babbling.
“Theo, that’s amazing,” Annika said, finally. “Congratulations.”
“Yeah, congratulations,” Levi said.
“South Carolina?” Zachary asked, his tone indignant.
Here we go.
“I know,” I said. “It’s a big move. But it’s a great opportunity.”
Making a fist, Zachary groaned. “Damn it, Theo. Congratulations. I’m actually really happy for you and simultaneously mad that you’re leaving.”
Marigold rubbed his arm. “It’s okay. Sometimes we have big feelings.”
“Same, but congrats,” Luke said. “That’s awesome.”
More congratulations started coming from around the table. I nodded along, appreciative of the smiles and well-wishes.
“Thanks, you guys. I know it’s a big change, but I’m really excited about it.”
I answered their questions about the school and what my new job would entail. After a while, the conversation drifted to other things before returning to Luke and Melanie and their wedding plans.
I finished dinner with a sense of relief. Now that my family knew, it seemed real. It was actually happening. And they’d all be fine without me around every day. I’d visit as often as I could, and meanwhile, I’d be forging ahead on a new path.
I cracked a smile. New job, new city, new possibilities. It was exciting, and I was looking forward to seeing where life took me next.